In Good Company
Dan Foreman is a seasoned advertisement sales executive at a high-ranking publication when a corporate takeover results in him being placed under naive supervisor Carter Duryea, who is half his age. Matters are made worse when Dan's new supervisor becomes romantically involved with his daughter an 18 year-old college student Alex.
The film earned $61.3M at the global box office.
2 wins & 8 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
In Good Company (2004) exhibits strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Paul Weitz's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 50 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Dan Foreman
Carter Duryea
Alex Foreman
Ann Foreman
Teddy K.
Main Cast & Characters
Dan Foreman
Played by Dennis Quaid
A veteran advertising sales executive facing corporate downsizing and personal upheaval when a much younger boss takes over his department.
Carter Duryea
Played by Topher Grace
An ambitious 26-year-old corporate hotshot promoted to head of sales, struggling with the pressure of his new role and a crumbling marriage.
Alex Foreman
Played by Scarlett Johansson
Dan's bright and idealistic college-aged daughter who becomes romantically involved with Carter, creating a complicated triangle.
Ann Foreman
Played by Marg Helgenberger
Dan's supportive wife and mother of their two daughters, who announces an unexpected pregnancy amid the family's financial uncertainty.
Teddy K.
Played by Malcolm McDowell
The corporate executive who orchestrates the company acquisition and promotes Carter, representing ruthless modern business culture.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Dan Foreman commutes to work, narrating about his stable life as advertising sales director at Sports America magazine. He's confident, respected, and has a comfortable routine with his family.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Globecom acquires the magazine. Dan's boss announces the corporate takeover and restructuring. Dan learns he's being demoted - a 26-year-old named Carter Duryea will become his new boss.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Dan actively chooses to stay and work under Carter despite the humiliation, committing to navigate this new corporate world. He decides to mentor Carter rather than sabotage him, entering a new professional relationship., moving from reaction to action.
At 55 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False victory: Carter successfully lands a major account using Dan's mentorship and relationship-building approach. He feels he's succeeding professionally, and his relationship with Alex deepens. Everything seems to be working., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 83 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Dan is fired. Carter must deliver the news to the man who became his mentor and whose daughter he loves. The corporate system destroys the authentic relationship they'd built. Dan's career - his identity - dies., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 88 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Carter realizes he must choose authenticity over corporate success. He synthesizes what Dan taught him about real relationships with his position of power, deciding to fight for what's right rather than what advances his career., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
In Good Company's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping In Good Company against these established plot points, we can identify how Paul Weitz utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish In Good Company within the comedy genre.
Paul Weitz's Structural Approach
Among the 7 Paul Weitz films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. In Good Company takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Paul Weitz filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Paul Weitz analyses, see Little Fockers, About a Boy and Grandma.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Dan Foreman commutes to work, narrating about his stable life as advertising sales director at Sports America magazine. He's confident, respected, and has a comfortable routine with his family.
Theme
Dan's wife tells him she's pregnant again, and they discuss how things change and what really matters in life - a conversation about values versus ambition and corporate success.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Dan's world: his loving family (wife, two daughters including Alex), his established career at Sports America, his competent sales team, and the professional relationships he's built over 20 years.
Disruption
Globecom acquires the magazine. Dan's boss announces the corporate takeover and restructuring. Dan learns he's being demoted - a 26-year-old named Carter Duryea will become his new boss.
Resistance
Dan resists the new corporate culture. Carter arrives, clueless but confident. Dan debates whether to quit or adapt, wrestling with his pride while supporting fired colleagues. Carter begins his awkward integration.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Dan actively chooses to stay and work under Carter despite the humiliation, committing to navigate this new corporate world. He decides to mentor Carter rather than sabotage him, entering a new professional relationship.
Mirror World
Carter meets Dan's daughter Alex at Dan's home and is immediately attracted. This subplot introduces the relationship that will embody the film's themes about authenticity, connection, and what truly matters versus corporate success.
Premise
The promise of the premise: the odd-couple dynamic of Dan mentoring Carter while resenting him. Carter and Alex secretly date. Dan teaches Carter about real sales relationships while Carter's marriage crumbles. Corporate absurdity unfolds.
Midpoint
False victory: Carter successfully lands a major account using Dan's mentorship and relationship-building approach. He feels he's succeeding professionally, and his relationship with Alex deepens. Everything seems to be working.
Opposition
Pressure mounts on all fronts: corporate demands increase, Carter's marriage officially ends, Dan discovers Carter is dating Alex and explodes, the synergy strategy begins failing, and Dan faces potential firing. Carter's two worlds collide.
Collapse
Dan is fired. Carter must deliver the news to the man who became his mentor and whose daughter he loves. The corporate system destroys the authentic relationship they'd built. Dan's career - his identity - dies.
Crisis
Carter sits in the darkness of his empty apartment, processing what he's become - a corporate tool who betrayed the only real mentor and relationship he'd found. Dan faces unemployment and uncertainty at 51 with a new baby coming.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Carter realizes he must choose authenticity over corporate success. He synthesizes what Dan taught him about real relationships with his position of power, deciding to fight for what's right rather than what advances his career.
Synthesis
Carter confronts Teddy K and quits, but negotiates Dan's reinstatement and the firing of incompetent hires. He takes responsibility for the failed strategy. Dan gets his job back. Carter and Alex end their relationship maturely, recognizing the impossibility.
Transformation
Dan back at work, secure in what matters - his family, his integrity, his relationships. Carter moves on, transformed from an empty corporate climber into someone who values authentic connection. Both men changed by choosing people over position.